Ghana has launched a national Maternal Mental Health Policy to integrate psychological screening and care into routine antenatal and postnatal healthcare services.
The policy, developed in partnership with the World Health Organisation (WHO), addresses a critical gap in maternal care, where a recent situational analysis revealed that nearly nine out of 10 mothers in Ghana receive no form of mental health support during pregnancy or after childbirth. The survey also found that around 70% of health workers lacked familiarity with maternal mental health disorders or the necessary tools to screen and diagnose them.
Under the new framework, the Ministry of Health and the WHO are training midwives and nurses across primary healthcare facilities to conduct routine, compassionate mental health screenings. Additionally, educational institutions, including the Nursing and Midwifery Council, are integrating maternal mental health into their core training curricula.
Speaking on the rollout, WHO Representative to Ghana Dr Fiona Braka pointed out that mental health must be treated as an essential pillar of maternal healthcare, ensuring that every woman receives comprehensive support that recognizes both her physical and psychological well-being.
–ChannelAfrica/WHO–
